Where in the World is Haley?

Well, I can start by telling you where I haven’t been… And that is the World Wide Web.  With lack of a personal computer, and limited 3G iPhone internet access, it is rather difficult to share with my friends my recent adventures and stories, plus I am still trying to get in contact with webhosting vergleich for hosting.  However, I can tell you where I have been… And that would be around town, surf contests, half way across the world, and, of course, The WingHouse.

 

Let’s date back to the beginning of 2011.  While out for a night in the unofficial redneck capital for Flagler county, Espanola, my life partner in crime, Cat, and I decided to keep the trend of the night (which was super random things) going by purchasing plane tickets to one of our favorite places in the world… Puerto Rico.  We packed our bags, assembled a killer “airport music” mix CD, and headed to Orlando International Airport.  While aboard the regular red-eye flight straight to the small surf town of Aguadilla, how could we help but not goof off a little in our rickety, Jet Blue airplane?

 

Bless the lady that had to sit next to us…

 

 

Our days were filled with surfing, sun, pinchos, warm water, good friends, good vibes, and fun.  But mostly pinchos…

 

 

pinchos

 

 

One morning, our good friend Maria picked us up along with Puerto Rican local ripper Lisie, for an all girls surf day.  We piled in the car and were off to Rincon.  We arrived to Domes Beach and were greeted by rippable little waves, and a few of our friends out.  Even though the larger sets were few and far between, we managed to catch some fun ones and had a wonderful time.  The ride back to Aguadilla was equally as entertaining, with Lisie equipped with tons of snacks, and singing older hit pop songs that we knew from back in America.  Later that night after a delicious pizza dinner from Junior’s, we decided to hit up the local bowling alley for a little fun.  Surprising, the Puerto Rican’s were just as good at bowling as they are at surfing!

 

 

Bowling with the crew

 

 

But we couldn’t forget that we did have a little bit of work (I guess you could call it that) to do!  And that was to use the natural beauty and picturesque land of Puerto Rico to capture images for our swim suit sponsor; NVR Strings.  I know it’s hard work, but hey, someone’s gotta do it!

 

 

The sunset from Jobo’s

 

 

After a long week of good times, it was time to head back to home.  We ran into dome fellow Floridians, who were kind enough to give us a ride to the airport.  We arrived to the airport and everything seemed like it was going pretty smooth… almost too smooth.  That’s when Cat realized she had forgotten her Mac book computer!  They sped back to the apartments while I proceeded through security and to check in our luggage.  Thankfully, she made it back to catch our plane, with a few minutes to spare, which was enough time for Cat to shop at the Duty Free store, while I raped the vending machines for all of their tasty snacks.  We made it home super early the next morning, hit up Mickey D’s for some iced coffee, and made the journey back to The Oldest City.

 

 

Myself and Cat

 

 

It was once again back to work at the WingHouse for me.  The likes of both Race Week and Bike Week brought tons of tourists and visitors.  The booming business allowed me to earn enough money to fix my truck… again.

 

 

Working hard, or hardly working? I’ll let you decide.

 

 

The month of April came upon me quickly, finally bringing the contest season and some warm water.  For the first time in history, the Kona Pro in New Smyrna Beach featured a women’s pro event.  One of my best and most fun friends Michelle and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world!  Unaware that the air temperatures had dropped quite a bit overnight, we had to find warmth somewhere.  And that we did in matching sweaters from Walgreens.

 

Welcome to New Smyrna!

 

 

Everything from the scaffolding, to the prize money, to the competitor ‘s list was big… same couldn’t be said for the surf.  Stuck on the crappier side of the double beached event, the girls and I tried our best to over power the tiny conditions, groveling our way through 3 rounds of heats.  In the end it was the local Lindsey Baldwin who took top honors, with NSB’s own Amy Nichol in a close second.  I finished with third place, and North Carolina’s top grom Darsha Pigford rounded out the final.

 

 

photo: ESM

 

 

It was just a few shorts weeks until my next big competition; ESA Southeast Regionals.  Set to be held at Anastasia Park, I was a bit nervous  since I had only surfed that break once before.  Over 400 surfers came from all over the state of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama and were competing from slots into the prestigious Easterns.  The waves were small but with the swell picking up through the day, the surfers were finding great waves and showing off their skills.  I moved up to the women’s division this year, and all of the girls were ripping.  I found myself in the final along with my good friend, St. Augustine local and fellow Surf Station tam rider Chelsea Gresham.  The surf for our final was small and glassy, but everyone was getting fun rides and I knew it was going to be close.  I exited the water feeling confident that I had tried by best.  I got a break from wondering how the results would turn out by competing in the Tag Team event along with Dustin, Marley, and Keto.  Time was running out and  I was the last surfer on our team to head to the water. As soon as Dustin was back in our team’s box, he slapped my hand and I bolted down the beach.  I caught two solid waves on the outside, and even found a little double-up section to hit on the inside.  With everyone cheering me on, I raced back up the beach and into Team St. Augustine’s box, with a few minutes to spare.  Then it was time for the awards.  We all patiently waited while they tallied the scores.  They called up the women’s finalist, my heart skipping every time they announced a place.  It was then I realized I was the only one standing there still without a trophy, and as they called my name I relaized that I had won!

 

photo: ESM

 

 

Our SAFL tag team ended up with a nice 3rd place finish!

 

 

Big trophy’s this year!

 

 

 

I only had a few hours to make it back home and get ready because I was leaving for California just the next day to compete in the ASP Rob Machado Pro Junior.  I was extra excited because Andrew was finally home safely  from Afghanistan, and we were traveling out to his house together.  I was also meeting with the owner of my swim suit sponsor (NVR Strings), Billy.  My friend and editor for TransworldSURF, Ryan, picked me up and we headed to Swami’s for a little afternoon session. The waves were fun and the water wasn’t even that cold!  Ryan rushed me back to Oceanside because I had dinner plans with Billy.  Anyone that knows me knows that I am horrible with making plans, and I am rarely on time.  Andrew and I indulged in amazing sushi with Billy and his date, and since my birthday had just passed, they Japanese people at the restaurant sang me a crazy song complete with costumes and lights!

 

Andrew and I

 

 

After dinner we all decided to go on an adventure to see my new surfboard in the process of being made.  We arrived at Rusty Whitlock’s surf shop/ compound, and I had no idea what to expect.  Keep in mind, Andrew doesn’t surf, so he didn’t have any idea what was going on either.  Rusty greeted us with a tour of the shop and led us back into the shaping room, where my board was being finished in the hot box.  It is so pretty!

 

Billy and I, checking out my new board.

 

 

The next few days I spent preparing for the contest.  I surfed as much as I could a Cardiff reef, and there were some fun lefts.

 

 

SeaSide Reef

 

 

Billy and I adventured around So Cal, shooting photos for the swim suit line, causing trouble, and eating burritos.  We stopped by the Whitlock’s compound again to hang out and play.

 

 

 

 

 

Then it was time for the contest.  The heats were stacked and the waves were fun.  I caught 2 really good, long rides in my quarter final, but it wasn’t enough to beat some of the top hawaiian female surfers I was up against.  I did, however, receive one award…

 

 

“Haley Watson May Not Have ‘Taken First Place For Surfing’ During ‘The Rob Machado Seaside Pro Junior 2011,’ However, Once Again, She ‘Took First Place For The Most – Sensational Swimsuit Worn By A Competitor.’ ”

 

 

I was having so much fun in California, goofing off with Andrew, his roommate and fellow Marine, Chris, and his wife Shannon, that I didn’t want to leave.

 

 

But now I am back home, and working hard on the surf contest that I am hosting in memory of my mom, Dollie Sue Watson.  Slated for May 21st here at the Flagler Beach Pier, there will be Pro and amateur surf divisions, a raffle, Miss May swimsuit pageant, and all around good time to raise awareness of heart disease, especially in women, with all proceeds donated to the American Heart Association.